It was soon the announcement day and June rented a room with Lucy at a hotel close to the event venue. They were to get their make-up and fit done by the professionals hired.
Soon enough, June and Lucy were at the event venue, Just in time for the anniversary of Mr and Mrs Joseph. The area was crowded with reporters and elites were invited for the lovely celebration of their marriage.
“It’s such a pity that Mrs Joseph did all of this only to be cheated on by her husband,” Lucy said as she took in the level of preparation and money put into the event. “What a disgrace of a husband.”
June felt her heart wrench. She felt caught in the web of things, knowing what she knew and yet unable to tell her. For the past few days since she saw Mr Joseph and figured he wasn’t the picture description of a loyal husband, she wondered what to do.
Mrs Joseph was celebrating thirty-five years of marriage with her husband and the last thing she wanted was to take away that feeling from her. She knew first-hand how painful it was to have a cheating husband, and worse, to find out after thirty-five years.
The thoughts, the pain, the insecurities a cheating husband brought was something she didn’t wish on anyone, talkless of a woman as thoughtful as Mrs Joseph. From their little interactions, it was clear the woman treasured her family.
She didn’t want to take that away from her.
June also wondered if she would have wanted to know if the case were reversed. The alarming truth that she would hate to be in the dark if the roles were reversed was frustrating.
In the end, she decided to tell Mrs Joseph the sort of man she was married to. But her conscience couldn’t let her do it on such a wonderful night so she figured to do it some other time.
“I see you made it.” The annoying voice of April snapped June out of her reverie. “I don’t know if you are confident or just foolish.”
Before June could utter a note-worthy response, Mrs Joseph showed up with her husband in tow. Her tone was anything but friendly as she spoke.
“Bold of you to show up here.” June blinked in confusion, unable to understand why Mrs. Joseph glared daggers at her.
“Mrs Joseph.” June managed a small smile, “Congratulations on-”
“Save it!” The elderly woman raised her hand, “You should be ashamed of yourself.” She glowered, “I will make sure you regret messing with my family.”
“Dearest, please, forgive me, don’t do this.” June was caught off-guard by the presence of Mr Joseph, who looked like he had a spleen in his spine as he followed after his wife like a puppy dog.
“Don’t you dare!” She raised her voice, eliciting a myriad of attention from the guests who wondered what was going on. “Thirty-five years! Thirty-five years and you do this to me?! You disgust me!”
Mrs Joseph headed up to the platform, too upset to care about the murmurs in the room. She took up the mic and started speaking. “Hello everyone, welcome to my party.”
Silence took over space as everyone listened attentively to the host of the event.
“Please pardon my manners. I have wasted your time.” Mrs Joseph blinked back tears. “I threw this party to celebrate thirty-five years of marriage with my husband who I just found to be cheating with the woman who he recommended to rebuild our home.”
June stiffened and April smirked from her end, having a field day in her head as she watched the drama unravel.
“This woman!” Mrs Joseph didn’t hesitate to pinpoint June as the offender. “This home wrecker came into my home, and presented the best design for the new family house I sought to build for my family.”
“She must have laughed me to scorn as I approved of her design for my home. She must have thought me to be foolish.” Mrs Joseph was close to tears. “Nevertheless, the joke is on you both because I will not allow you to ruin my day.”
June could feel the hard gazes of people as she was accused of breaking a home. Unable to defend herself from the perceptions and murmurs around her, she listened to Mrs Joseph as she slandered her further.
“JL Architectures is a firm owned by a wreckless home breaker and I hope no one considers them in the future. Anyone who works with them is the same as my enemy.”
“I hope you are happy, Miss June. I hope you are happy as I will be divorcing my husband.” Gasps were heard around the crowd and June felt her throat constrict.
“I will be divorcing him because I do not deserve a cheater. I am way too valuable to remain with a cheating man I picked from the gutters and made him the councilman he is today.”
“Nevertheless, I will not be ending this party nor stopping my house project.” Mrs Joseph looked right at June as she said, “I will not allow a homewrecker to take my joy.”
“This party will be in celebration of my new identity as a single woman and the new house will be built in my name.” Mrs Joseph snapped her finger and the screen behind her lit up. “Here is the design for my new house project as a soon-to-be-divorcee!”
April’s company designs played on the screen. Slides of the yet-to-be-executed project are displayed on the screen. “This project was put together by LT Constructions.” She announced urging April to the platform.
“Despite the many challenges April Lontoc has faced in her life and marriage, she still managed to put her life together and is the beautiful leader of the LT Constructions and Rivera stores!”
“Please do not forget to reach out to LT Constructions for your projects! You will not be disappointed. I hope you have a better night than I will.” With that, Mrs Joseph stepped down the platform with April hot on her heels.
Mr Joseph tried to plead with his wife when she got down the podium, only to be blocked by some security men who were given orders to throw him out of the event.
June walked boldly to Mrs Joseph, holding a smile despite the names thrown her way. “I think there is a misunderstanding somewhere.”
Slap!
“I gave you the option to walk out of here in shame but you dare to show your face in front of me?” She growled raw anger in her eyes.
June who was pushed by the sheer force of her slap was held by Lucy who screamed with concern. “Madame!”
“Get out of my sight woman, do you want me to show everyone how shameless you are to pursue a man old enough to be your father?”
“Mrs Joseph. Let me-”
“Save it! I heard you are so desperate to publicise your new firm. Since we are at it, I’ll help you a little.” Mrs Joseph turned with a frown. “Put the photos up!”
Soon enough, a picture of June and Mr Joseph was displayed on screen, eliciting reactions. The picture was taken from an angle that showed the hands of Mr Joseph wandering under her skirt at a public restaurant.
“Unbelievable!”
“Despicable!”
“How shameless!”
People were more vocal with their anger as they saw the pictures playing on the screen. April was the happiest woman in the room, as Mrs Joseph slandered her further.
“Do you have anything to say? Are you going to deny it?” Moved by anger, she turned to the security. “Are you still there? Take her away!”
The security moved to grab hold of her but was stopped by a calm voice that rang into the air. “Who dares to touch my auntie?”
Heads turned towards the direction of the voice as suited security men filed into the place, turning the place dark with tension. Everyone watched in shock as a young Luis Ambrose walked into the place with his father in hand.
One glance at the ambrose security batch worn by the suited men and everyone shook in fear. They had heard of the powerful Rafael Ambrose – Billionaire heir and CEO of the Ambrose conglomerate.
Never did they expect to see the father and son duo make an appearance at such a place. Not to talk of defending the home wrecker or having the famous young prince address her in such an endearing manner.
Mrs Joseph wore a strained smile as she headed to the father and son duo. “Rafael…” She started in a fond tone but was cut off by his hard tone.
“Mr Ambrose.” Rafael corrected with a firm tone, she swallowed.
“I apologise. I didn’t realise you were going to honour this invitation. I should have prepared better-”
“I don’t care about your party or your life crisis.” Rafael fired mercilessly. “I heard that the head of JL Architectures would be in this event and I came to seek an audience with her.”
Everyone, “!!!!”
“Could you please direct her to me? My son and I have some unfinished business with her.”